KUCHING: The Senate (Dewan Negara) should comprise at least one-third lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak.
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew said this was one of the fundamental conditions in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“It was meant as a safeguard for Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore against the might of Malaya.
“I fully support the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari’s view that one third of MPs must be from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lau noted that when Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, the 15 parliamentary seats allocated to Singapore were extinguished instead of being allocated to Sarawak and Sabah.
“This was a blatant disregard to the basis for the formation and the foundation of Malaysia. It was done despite protests by the chief ministers of both Sarawak and Sabah then. It is a great injustice to Sarawak and Sabah. It has to be corrected,” he pointed out.
Lau said the same principle should therefore be accorded Sarawak and Sabah in the Senate.
